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Authors: Stuart Woods
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get dressed. I'll be down in a couple of minutes.
Very good.
He buzzed them in, then got up, brushed his hair, put on some clothes and walked downstairs.
Two men in business suits rose as he entered the living room. They flashed their badges and introduced themselves, then everybody sat down.
What can I do for you? Stone asked.
Agent Williams produced a plastic bag containing a two-dollar bill and handed it to Stone. I believe you wanted some information on this two-dollar bill?
Stone looked at it and handed it back. I wanted information on a two-dollar bill; I can't guarantee it was this one.
Williams nodded. Here's your information, he said. It is one of a very large number of two-dollar bills stolen from Fort Dix army base in New Jersey in 1955.
Stone blinked. You keep track of fifty-year-old robberies?
When the robbery is of four hundred thousand dollars and change.
I commend you on your record keeping, Stone said.
Thank you. Where did you get the two-dollar bill?
I'm afraid I can't say.
What?
Stone searched for the right words. I'm sorry, but answering your question would violate the canon of legal ethics.
Which part of the canon? Williams asked.
I'm afraid I can't tell you that, either.
I was told you'd be cooperative.
Who told you that?
The United States Attorney for New York.
Well, she was right, in the sense that I wish to be cooperative, within the bounds of professional ethics, but, as I've said, revealing the source of the two-dollar bill would entail compromising legal ethics, and any court would back me on that.
The two agents stared at him in silence.
Perhaps you can tell me why you are so interested in solving a crime, the statue of limitations on which expired decades ago?
Two army officers were murdered during the course of the robbery. There's no statute of limitations on that.
I see. Well, gentlemen, I'm afraid the only thing I can do is to make inquiries of my own into the origins of the bill and, if I'm able to, let you know what I find out.
Williams handed Stone a card. Please do so, and call me. You can always reach me on the cell number.
Stone shook the two men's hands and let them out of the house. Then he went to the phone and called the Four Seasons Hotel. Billy Bob's suite didn't answer, and Stone left a message for him to call back.
ON MONDAY MORNING, when he still hadn't heard from Billy Bob, Stone called the Four Seasons again and was told that Billy Bob had checked out early that morning. Stone called Bill Eggers.
Good morning, Stone.
Good morning, Bill; we have a problem.
What sort of problem?
You know our client Billy Bob?
I believe he's your client, Stone.
He's a client of the firm, is he not?
To whom did he make out his retainer check?
Well, to me, I guess.
Good guess. Now, whose client is he?
All right, my client. Would you like to hear about the problem?
Not really.
There are ethical problems that might reflect badly on the firm.
Since Mr. Billy Bob is not now nor has he ever been a client of the firm, I don't see how any of his problems could reflect on the firm in any manner whatever.
His photograph in the company of the mayor, taken at the firm party, has appeared in the newspapers.
We didn't tell the mayor who he could or could not bring to our party.
You mean, he came with the mayor.
I believe he did.
Are you aware that, the day after the party, Billy Bob's date was found murdered in his bed?
Good God! The Four Seasons must have gone nuts!
They weren't at the Four Seasons; they were in my guest room.
Eggers managed a vocal shrug. Well, Stone, I don't see how that relates to the firm.
It was at your request that Billy Bob was a guest in my home.
It was just a suggestion.
So, I'm stuck with Billy Bob, is that it?
Looks that way.
Then perhaps you would give me some advice on the ethical ramifications of representing him.
Would this entail your sharing details of your relationship with Billy Bob?
It might.
Then my advice is don't
Very good.
He buzzed them in, then got up, brushed his hair, put on some clothes and walked downstairs.
Two men in business suits rose as he entered the living room. They flashed their badges and introduced themselves, then everybody sat down.
What can I do for you? Stone asked.
Agent Williams produced a plastic bag containing a two-dollar bill and handed it to Stone. I believe you wanted some information on this two-dollar bill?
Stone looked at it and handed it back. I wanted information on a two-dollar bill; I can't guarantee it was this one.
Williams nodded. Here's your information, he said. It is one of a very large number of two-dollar bills stolen from Fort Dix army base in New Jersey in 1955.
Stone blinked. You keep track of fifty-year-old robberies?
When the robbery is of four hundred thousand dollars and change.
I commend you on your record keeping, Stone said.
Thank you. Where did you get the two-dollar bill?
I'm afraid I can't say.
What?
Stone searched for the right words. I'm sorry, but answering your question would violate the canon of legal ethics.
Which part of the canon? Williams asked.
I'm afraid I can't tell you that, either.
I was told you'd be cooperative.
Who told you that?
The United States Attorney for New York.
Well, she was right, in the sense that I wish to be cooperative, within the bounds of professional ethics, but, as I've said, revealing the source of the two-dollar bill would entail compromising legal ethics, and any court would back me on that.
The two agents stared at him in silence.
Perhaps you can tell me why you are so interested in solving a crime, the statue of limitations on which expired decades ago?
Two army officers were murdered during the course of the robbery. There's no statute of limitations on that.
I see. Well, gentlemen, I'm afraid the only thing I can do is to make inquiries of my own into the origins of the bill and, if I'm able to, let you know what I find out.
Williams handed Stone a card. Please do so, and call me. You can always reach me on the cell number.
Stone shook the two men's hands and let them out of the house. Then he went to the phone and called the Four Seasons Hotel. Billy Bob's suite didn't answer, and Stone left a message for him to call back.
ON MONDAY MORNING, when he still hadn't heard from Billy Bob, Stone called the Four Seasons again and was told that Billy Bob had checked out early that morning. Stone called Bill Eggers.
Good morning, Stone.
Good morning, Bill; we have a problem.
What sort of problem?
You know our client Billy Bob?
I believe he's your client, Stone.
He's a client of the firm, is he not?
To whom did he make out his retainer check?
Well, to me, I guess.
Good guess. Now, whose client is he?
All right, my client. Would you like to hear about the problem?
Not really.
There are ethical problems that might reflect badly on the firm.
Since Mr. Billy Bob is not now nor has he ever been a client of the firm, I don't see how any of his problems could reflect on the firm in any manner whatever.
His photograph in the company of the mayor, taken at the firm party, has appeared in the newspapers.
We didn't tell the mayor who he could or could not bring to our party.
You mean, he came with the mayor.
I believe he did.
Are you aware that, the day after the party, Billy Bob's date was found murdered in his bed?
Good God! The Four Seasons must have gone nuts!
They weren't at the Four Seasons; they were in my guest room.
Eggers managed a vocal shrug. Well, Stone, I don't see how that relates to the firm.
It was at your request that Billy Bob was a guest in my home.
It was just a suggestion.
So, I'm stuck with Billy Bob, is that it?
Looks that way.
Then perhaps you would give me some advice on the ethical ramifications of representing him.
Would this entail your sharing details of your relationship with Billy Bob?
It might.
Then my advice is don't
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